Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 395

Chapter 395

Andrei’s POV

I tore through the suite like a rabid animal, yanking open closets, checking under the bed, even looking in places too small for even the twins to fit into.

“Natalia!” I shouted, drawing the attention of patrolling guards, who came to stand in the doorway with puzzled expressions. “Natalia!”

There was never a response; this was no prank, no misunderstanding. They weren’t here. They were gone. The room wasn’t disturbed before I arrived—not even so much as a scrap of torn fabric, as if they had simply vanished. Someone may have taken them, but first, I needed proof. Something to give me a lead as to what happened.

It wasn’t until I was on my hands and knees in the doorway, practically pawing at the flagstones with my bare hands, that I saw the blood. It was just a single drop, but it smelled distinctly of Natalia. It was still tacky, not quite dry.

My stomach dropped. Natalia had been hurt. Someone had hurt her and taken her and the twins while I was out searching for Damon. But at least it had happened recently; If I hurried, I might be able to catch up with them before it was too late.

I bolted from the room, my boots pounding frantically against the stone floors as I ran through the corridors. A few minutes later, I burst into the great hall where some of our allies were still lingering over drinks and conversation. Catherine looked up, and her smile faded when she saw me.

“Andrei, what-”

“Natalia’s gone. The twins, too. I need every available warrior. Now.”

Within minutes, the hall was emptying as warriors rushed to assemble for a search party.

David appeared beside me, still pale after his illness but recovering. “What happened?”

“I don’t know. I found blood in our room. They were just–gone.” My voice cracked on the last word, and I hated myself for it. If only I hadn’t brought her here, if only I had kept her safe, if only, if only-

Grace pushed through the crowd, her face pale, and grabbed my arm. “Andrei-”

I couldn’t meet her eyes. “I’m sorry. I should have—”

“We’ll find them,” Grace said firmly, cutting me off. “We’ll find them, and we’ll bring them home.”

I nodded, my jaw clenched. We had to. The alternative wasn’t something I could afford to think about.

The search party assembled quickly–over fifty warriors, all armed and ready. We spread out across the compound, searching every building, every corner, every shadowed alcove where someone might hide.

Nothing.

I led a group into the forest, following the same path I had taken earlier when searching for Damon. My wolf’s senses were on high alert, filtering through a thousand different scents, trying to find hers.

Suddenly, I picked up Natalia’s scent, cutting through the trees to the northeast. I sprinted toward where the scent was the strongest and spotted a piece of fabric hanging from a low tree branch. It was Natalia’s dress–the one she’d been wearing tonight. Deep blue and silky. She’d wanted to put on something nice for dinner; something to make herself feel normal, even if only for a little while.

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Chapter 395

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And now it was torn, blowing in the breeze like a macabre flag.

My hands trembled as I brought the fabric to my nose, breathing in her scent. It was definitely hers. And it was too close to where I’d found Damon’s ring to be a coincidence. They had taken similar paths. The rogues had come back and taken my mate and children, just like they’d taken my brother.

“They’re taking her north,” I said. “To the Winter King.”

We searched the surrounding forest for over an hour, but Natalia and the twins were already long gone. The trail led deep into the forest, and eventually, Catherine urged me to return to the compound to plan accordingly. This wasn’t going to be a simple search and rescue. Natalia and the twins might already be miles away by now.

When we reached the compound, I went straight to the war room. Sleep wasn’t an option. Not when Natalia was out there. I spread out the maps we’d gathered, studying the terrain between here and the mountains. The route was treacherous, full of narrow passes and steep cliffs. Perfect for ambushes.

The door opened behind me. I didn’t look up.

“You should rest,” Celeste’s voice, raspy and aged, murmured behind me.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not.” She moved closer, and I could hear her cane tapping on the stone floor. “You’re exhausted and you’re about to do something stupid.”

I finally looked at her. Even hunched and twisted, she still had that same fire in her eyes.

“What would you have me do?” I blurted out. “Wait here while my mate-‘

“I’d have you think,” Celeste interrupted. “The Winter King has Natalia. He has your brother. He probably wants you to come charging in like a reckless idiot so he can add you to his collection.”

My jaw clenched. “Yeah, well, I’m not leaving them there.”

“I didn’t say you have to leave them. I said you have to think.” She pointed at the map with one gnarled finger. “I know what you’re planning: you think you can go alone. Maybe with a handful of warriors.”

I sighed, looking away. She was right. For a moment, I’d nearly traipsed off into the Thornwood on my own, so desperate was I to find my mate and children. But I knew the rogue king wanted them alive; which meant that there was likely only one place they were going to, and it would be a fool’s mission to go alone.

I let out a long breath, shoulders sagging. “You’re right.”

“I know I am.” There was no smugness in her tone, just weary certainty. “Get some rest. A few hours, at least. You’ll need your strength. In the morning, you can take your army to get her back. But you can’t go alone.”

I nodded slowly, looking back at the map. The mountains loomed there, dark and unknown. I had no idea what sort of terrain awaited me–likely cold and treacherous, icy and uninhabitable. But Natalia was up there somewhere. Cold, scared, possibly hurt. And the twins…

As I sank into the chair behind me, exhaustion tugged at me. But so did conviction. Conviction that settled deep in my bones and refused to let go. Natalia and the twins were still alive–I was certain of it. And if they were still alive, then I had time.

Celeste was right–I had an army at my disposal. An army that was possibly even more loyal to Natalia than it had

ever been to me. None of us would rest until she was found.

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I would save Natalia. I would save the twins. I would save Damon and I would find a way to reverse the effects of Helena’s ruby.

Once that was done, then I would finally kill the Winter King once and for all–with my own hands. No army, no rubies. Just brute strength.

And until I did that, I would make sure every single rogue who touched my family paid for it in blood.

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